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Benefactors & students reflect on Ever Elon success

As the largest fundraising campaign in Elon history surpasses the $100 million mark, those who give, and those who benefit, share their stories.

Donors and select students gathered before the Oct. 21 RALLY ELON event on the terrace in Rhodes Stadium.

Shortly before the RALLY ELON event on Homecoming Eve to celebrate the Ever Elon fundraising campaign, many of the men and women whose generosity made the campaign an astounding success opened up about their motivations for supporting Elon University.

At the same time, several students who had received scholarships made possible by donors greeted the guests with signs that ready “thank you” in seven languages. They, too, had stories to tell.

Elon will continue to count gifts toward the final tally of Ever Elon: The Campaign for the Future of Our University through Dec. 31, 2011. The total raised by the campaign, which went public in 2008, stands at $105,662,630 as of Oct. 21, 2011.

“The Ever Elon Campaign has made my experience at Elon something I never thought it would be. I’d never been out of the country before, and last Winter Term I got to go to Ghana, and it would not have been possible without the gifts from the Ever Elon Campaign.”

Evan Rey ’12, recipient of the Kernodle Service-Learning Scholarship and the Watts Scholarship in Biology

“The Ever Elon Campaign has helped me by acknowledging my hard work in the classroom. It has also (demonstrated) to me that if I can achieve scholarships here at Elon with all the other students, I can achieve high levels of recognition anywhere in the world.”

Toorialey Fazly ’14, recipient of the Pavlov Scholarship

“I would like to thank the Elon community and Elon donors for their generosity, and actually, their help brought me to the United States all the way from Afghanistan. It provided me opportunities to learn within the classes, and also from people who are here from all over the world. I’ve learned a lot in the classroom. I’m also living in a learning community. It has been a big experience so far.”

The Rally Elon event celebrated the campaign with a fireworks display at Rhodes Stadium.

The Benefactors

Vicky (trustee) and Sam Hunt, with gifts toward financial need and law scholarships, the softball field and Elon Academy

“We feel like the name says it all: Ever Elon. It’s a first class institution, with great leadership doing a wonderful service and job, and we want to do our part to keep it going forever.”

Don Dancer P’05, member of the Elon University School of Law Advisory Board, with gifts toward scholarships for law and for international study in honor of his father

“My daughter graduated from Elon in 2005, and even before that I supported the university, but since she graduated, I’ve seen the incredible growth of the university, the incredible vibrancy, and the consistency of its growth. I’ve just been very excited and will continue to support it.”

Michele "Shelly" Skeens Hazel '78, LP'09, trustee with gifts toward a law professorship in honor of family members

“I chose to support the Ever Elon Campaign because many years ago Elon gave to me the opportunity to have an incredible education, an experience, and I wanted to ensure that Elon could be there for others in the future. It was there for me. Others before me ensured it for me, and I hope to ensure it for the future. I don’t think there’s anywhere else in this country where I could have had my experience. The heart of Elon has always been here. It’s magical.”